Spray type ice cube making machine



De@ 6, 3.966 A. N. DEDRICKS ETAL. 39239943@ SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKINGMACHINE 8 Sheets-5heet l Filed March 27, 1964 INVENTORS ALVIN N.DEDRICKS RlCHARD H. SWANSON De @s 1%@ A. N. Dammen@ ETAL, f@

SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS ALVIN N. DEDRICKS RICHARD H. SWANSON ltr', Y i

ATTORN Dec.. E. W66 A. N. DEDRICKS ETAL.

SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed March 27, 1964 INVENTORS ALVIN N. DEDRICKS RICHARD H. SWANSONATTORNEY Dec., 6, w66 A. N. DEDRscKs ETAL Sgv@ SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBEMAKING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR S ALVIN N.DEDRICKS RiCHARD H. SWANSON Dec.. 6, 3965 A. N. DEDRICKS ETAL. 392%439SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 27, 1964ALVIN N. DEDRICKS RXCHARD H. SWANSON Deu, 6, E966 A. N. @Emmons ETAL.EQZQE SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKING MACHNE Filed March L37, 1964 8Sheets-Sheet .1

INVENTOR S ALVKN N. DEDRICKS RICHARD H. SWANSON Dec. E9 196 N. DEDRKCKSETAL. 3&29943@ SPRAY TYPE ICE CUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1964 8Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS ALVIN N. DEDRICKS RICHARD H. SWANSON @ATTORNEYUnited States Patent O This invention relates generally to a machine -orapparatus for making and storing relatively small chunks of ice ofuniform shape and size, preferably of the type known generally as icecubes.

More particularly, the present invention pertains to a machine orapparatus employing a method or process for continuously andautomatically making and storing substantial quantities of high-qualityice cubes.

There is currently being formulated, by the National SanitationFoundation, standards of cleanliness relating to automatic frozen foodproduct making machinery or apparatus, to which manufacturers mustconform in order t-o obtain a seal of approval from the foundation.Included in these standards are requirements such as the accessibilityof the parts or components of the apparatus for proper and thoroughcleaning and visual inspection, and the removability of the parts orcomponents from the main apparatus Without the use of tools or with theuse of only simple tools.

It is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide amachine or apparatus for making ice in cube or other desired shapes thatis so constituted and arranged as to conform with the requirements ofthe standards of the National Sanitation Foundation relative to the easeof removal and maintenance of cleanliness of component parts ofautomatic frozen food product machinery or apparatus.

Another primary object of this invention is to provide such a machine orapparatus having an ice cube making unit which is isolated from otherportions of the apparatus and which can be completely and easilydisassembled, reassembled, or replaced without the use of special tools.

A further primary object of the present invention is the provision of amachine or apparatus for making pure ice in cube or other desired shapeshaving an ice making section that is so constituted and arranged as tohave a minimum of moving or operating parts to insure the reliableoperation thereof and to require very little maintenance.

An additional primary object of this invention is to provide a machineor apparatus for making ice in cube or equivalent form having verticallyaligned, parallelly inclined mold and water manifold structures whereinwater is ejected upwardly in relatively low pressure solid streams intoinverted cups or cells in the mold structure through relativelyelongated ducts formed in the water manifold, the water beingsequentially frozen in the inverted mold cups and thereafter releasedtherefrom under the induence of gravity.

Still another primary object of this invention is to provide such amachine or apparatus for making ice in cube or equivalent form whereinthe inclined manifold structure is so constituted and disposed as tofunction as a conveyor slide for the ice cubes moving by gravity thereonwhen released from the inverted cups of the mold structure.

A further primary object of the present invention is the provision ofsuch a machine or apparatus wherein an ice cube exit assembly is soconstituted and arranged as to utilize the force of gravity to conveythe ice cubes from the inclined manifold to a remote storage area, andwherein a novel device is provided to prevent water from ice splashingfrom the mold structure into the ice cube exit assembly.

A still further primary object of this invention is the provision of amachine or apparatus which employs a novel process or method for makingpure ice in relatively srnall cube or equivalent shapes in a staticallyfixed and inclined mold from Water discharged upwardly therein from astatically fixed and parallel water manifold, the Water being dischargedin relatively low pressure solid stream form from restricted duct meansin the manifold, whereby the Water in the mold is sequentially frozenand released therefrom by gravity and thereafter slidably guided on theinclined manifold to move by gravity to a remote storage area.

Yet another primary object of the invention is the provision of amachine or apparatus for making ice blocks in cube or other desiredshapes wherein readily removable, statically fixed and parallellyinclined mold and water manifold structures are supported by a housingassembly which is so constituted and disposed as to direct excess Waterfrom the mold to a readily removable, statically positioned sump forrecirculation.

Another primary object of the present invention is the provision of sucha machine or apparatus for making ice blocks in cube or other desiredshapes wherein water is maintained at a predetermined level in the sumpby a iloat controlled device, the sump also including a device forflushing only a portion of the water therein from the bottom portionthereof to remove mineral and other impurities contained in the waterwith only a minimum loss of the chilled water contained therein.

A further primary object of this invention is to provide in such amachine or apparatus for simultaneously making a plurality of relativelysmall cube-like blocks of ice, an assembly for periodically flushingtherefrom a minimum amount of water with each ice cube making cyclewherein any impurities that accumulate in the water will be removed witheach ilushing to secure crystalline clear ice cubes and to increase theice cube making efficiency by conserving a maximum amount of the Waterused.

An additional primary object of the present invention is to provide in=a machine or apparatus for producing crystalline clear ice cbes andhaving a water sump reservoir, a novel device for controlling theperiodic flushing from the bottom portion of the sump or reservoir onlythe Water contained in the lowest part thereof which contains theWater-carried impurities if any are present, thereby to conserve andretain a maximum amount of the excess water from each cycle which waschilled, but not frozen during the ice cube making process.

Still another primary object of the instant invention is to provide amechanism or apparatus for making pure ice in cube or equivalent formhaving a device which is so constructed and arranged as to utilizeexcess chilled Water from the ice cube -making process to precoolincoming water and thus to increase the efficiency of the ice cubemaking process.

Yet another primary object of this invention is to provide in an icecube making machine or apparatus, such a precooling device having anovel valve assembly to control the discharge therefrom of excesschilled water owing therein after each ice cube making process or cycle.

A still further primary object of this invention is to provide in almachine -or apparatus for simultaneously making a plurality lofrelatively small blocks of ice in cube 0r equivalent form, a Watermanifold comprising a pair of facing and parallelly disposed member, atleast one of which comprises substantially shallow curved corrugationsand has a plurality of uniformly spaced water discharge ducts extendingthrough the raised portions of the corrugations thereof for simultaneousdischarge of water therethrough, the manifold members having a novelgasket or sealing device therebetween and being manually releasablysecured together.

Other objects, advantages, and important features of this invention willbe apparent from a study of the specification following, taken with thedrawings which together described, disclose, illustrate, and showcertain embodiments or modifications of machinery or apparatus whichdefine the component parts of a system which employs a novel method orprocess for making pure ice in cube or c-omparable shapes and what isnow considered and believed to 'be the best method of practicing theprocedures and principles thereof. Still other embodiments,modifications, procedures, or equivalents thereof may be suggested tothose having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such otherembodiments, modifications, procedures, or equivalents a're intended t-obe reserved to the a-pplicant especially as they fall within the scopeand breadth of the sulbjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is `a front elevational view of the cabinet containing themachine or apparatus for makin-g ice in cube or comparable shapes,wherein a portion Iof the cabinet is broken away and illustrated insection to better show the construction of the outer wall, the lowermostdrain section thereof, and the waste water drainpipe connection mountedtherein;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the cabinet structure of the iceImaking machine or apparatus viewed from the left in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line3 3 of FIGURE 1 and taken through the ice cube .making section in theuppermost portion thereof to clearly show the fixed parallel arrangementand disposition of the ice cube forming components;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substan` tially along theline 4 4 of FIGURE 3 to show more clearly various details of the mold,water manifold, and sump structure of the present ice making machi-ne orapparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along lline5 5 of FIGURE 4 to clearly show details of the water supply component ofthe ins-tant apparatus and the control features therefor;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the water manifold, showingthe components thereof in unassembled but aligned relationship;

FIGURE 7 is a front eleva-tional view in section of the water manif-old,showing the parts thereof in assembled relationship;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in enlarged scale of a portionof the apparatus illustrated in FIG- URE 7, showing an end portion ofthe water manifold employed in the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 andshowing more clearl-y the preferred sealing lgasket between theperipheral end portions of the manifold sections;

FIGURES 9, 10i, 11, and 12 are enlarged fragmentary sectional viewscorresponding to FIGURE 8, showing modified forms of sealing gasketsbetween the peripheral end portions of the manifold sections and showingmodified mounting means for the water manifold;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified formof the water deflector assembly shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 14 and 15 are enlarged fragmentary elevational views in sectionof modified arrangements for controlling the water level of the watersump -to effect periodic partial drainage of the sump;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a tray or receptacle which can beincorporated into the ins-tant ice cube making machine or apparatus toreceive excess coo-led water therein from the freezing mold forprecooling incoming water passing therethrough;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a control valveprovided in the base of the precooling tray shown in FIGURE 16:

FIGURE 18 is a longitudinal sectional vie-w taken substantially alongline 18-18 of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 19 is a schematic rear elevational View, with4 parts broken away,of the ice cube making machine or apparatus shown in FIGURE 3, showingwater being discharged from the water manifold into inverted cups orcells in the freezing mold; and

FIGURE 20 is a schematic front elevational view, with parts broken away,of a modified form of the instant ice cube making machine or apparatus,showing two functionally independent and self-contained ice makingunits;

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to FIGURE 13, showing another modified formof the iwater deector assem'bly shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 22 is a perspective vie-w showing a further modification of themodified form of the lwater deflect-or assembly shown in FIGURE 21.

With reference now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURES 1and 2 an ice machine enclosure or cabinet 30 of generally rectangularshape having an upper section 32 which provides a chamber 34 in which ismounted the present ice cube making unit, mechanism or apparatus. Thechamber 34 is closed by an easily removable upper closure member orcover 36. Below the upper cabinet section 32 is a lower section 3S whichis shown as being of greater length than the lupper section 32, althoughit may be of any suitable or desirable length. The upper portion of thelower section 38 comprises an ice bin 40 which receives the ice -cubesfrom the ice cube making chamber 34, the front of the ice bin 40 beingclosed by access doors 42 for the removal of ice cubes therefrom whendesired. The bottom portion of the lower cabinet section 3S comprises adrain area 44 having a suitable pipe connection 45 mounted in a sidewall 48 thereof adjacent the bottom wall Si? for disposal of waste watertherefrom.

If desired, the Icabinet 30 may comprise two or more functionallyindependent and self-contained upper ice making sections which would bevertically aligned and in overlying relationship within the cabinet 30.A cabinet 30 comprising two vertically aligned ice making sections 32and 52 is illustrated schematically in FIGURE 20, the details of whichwill 'be more fully described hereinafter.

All outer wall portions of the cabinet 3f), together with its upperclosure member 36 and its ice cube access doors 42, are preferably ofhollow construction, comprising in each instance an inner wall 54parallelly spaced from an outer wall 56, both of suitable sheet materialof adequate strength such as aluminum, for example, with suitableinsulation material 58 filling the space therebetween.

With particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, the ice cube makingchamber 34 of the upper cabinet section 32 has fixedly mounted therein afreezing mold or platten di) disposed at an oblique angle to ahorizontal plane and lengthwise of the cabinet 3d and asymmetricallythereto. The freezing mold 60 comprises a generally rectangularstructure having a plurality of parallel rows of inverted or downwardlyopening freezing cells or cups 62 formed therein. Each of the cells 62preferably is rectangular in cross section with a top wall 64 lyingsubstantially parallel to the inclined bottom wall d6 of the mold 60 andhaving downwardly diverging side walls 68. The mold 60 preferably isformed of a heat conducting material, such as aluminum, and refrigerantor evaporator tubes 7d are initially cast in the mold 60 or are securelyfastened to the back surface thereof, the refrigerant tubes beingconnected by either fiexible piping or conventional disconnectiblecoupling means to aconventional refrigerating apparatus (not shown)which forms no part of theinstant invention.

While a specific and preferred shape of the freezing cells 62 has beendescribed, it is to be clearly understood that any desired cell shapemay be used, with the limitation only that the ice cubes formed in thecells 62 rnay freely fall therefrom by gravity when the freezing cycleis terminated and the mold is defrosted in the usual or conventionalreversal refrigerant flow manner to effect a slight warming of the walls64 and 68 of each cell 62 to free the ice cube formed therein.

Each of the upper walls 64 of the freezing cells 62 is thickened at itsmidsection to form an elongated ridge 72 at the upper or outer sidethereof, as `shown in FIG- URE 3. Extending through this thickenedportion between the ridge 72 and the center of the upper wall 64 of eachcell 62 is a relatively restricted duct or channel 74 which :serves apurpose to be described hereinafter. The freezing mold 60 is insulatedby suitable insulation 76 mounted on its lower portion between thefreezing cells 62, on its side portions and on its upper wall portionintermediate the ridges 72. The insulation 76 on the upper wall portionpreferably is of a thickness as to extend substantially flush with theelongated ridges 72 thereon to form therewith a substantially smoothinclined planar surface, as shown in FIGURE 3, for a purpose to be laterexplained.

The freezing rnold 60 is removably mounted and frictionally held in itsfixed and obliquely inclined position in the cabinet chamber 34 by .awater discharge or spray housing 78 which is provided with a laterallyextending flange portion 79 that is secured by any desired means, suchas bolts 80 or the like, to angle brackets 82 welded or otherwisesecured to the outer walls 56 of the cabinet section 32 (see FIGURES 3and 4). Frictional clamping and positioning brackets 84 and 86 for thefreezing mold 60 are removably secured in any suitable manner on theflange portion 79 of the spray housing 78. The spray housing lpreferablyis formed of a suitable plastic material such as a polyolen, apolyamide, or a polyvinylchloride, although it may also be formed of avsuitable metal such as aluminum.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 3, the freezing mold 60 is asytmimetricallypositioned lengthwise of the cabinet section 32, with the upper or leftend portion of the inclined mold 60 being disposed in close relationshipto the adjacent or left side of the cabinet section 32 and the lower orright end portion of the mold 60 `being relatively widely spaced fromthe adjacent or right side of the cabinet section 32. The portion of theflange 79 extending around approximately three sides of the sprayhousing 7S underlies and supports the freezing mold 60. The lower wall92 of the spray housing 7S, the major portion of which is inclined andparallel to the inclined freezing mold 60, is spaced a substantialdistance below the ymold 60 and is integral with the upwardly extendingside walls 94 of the spray housing 78 which are disposed inperpendicular relationship to the inclined plane of the mold 60.

The portion 96 of the spray housing flange 79', provided onapproximately one side of the spray housing 78 as shown in FIGURE 3, isprovided with a raised edge or rim 98 to form a water collecting tray Tfor any water flowing down from the upper surface of the freezing mold60 for a reason to be described hereinafter. The side wall 94 of thespray housing 7S adjacent the flange portion 96 is apertured at 100throughout it's transverse width corresponding to the width of the -mold60. Secured in any suitable manner to the housing wall 94 adjacent theupper edge of the aperture 100 therein is a slightly transverselyinclined, upwardly facing and generally U-shaped water receiving tray102. The tray 102 extends through the aperture 100l to a pointunderlying a V-shaped or angular water splash deflector strip or plate104 which is secured to the underside of the freezing mold 60 in anysuitable manner. The V-shaped water splash deflector plate 104 coactswith the water receiving tray 102 in a :manner to be later described.

The spray housing 7S has suitably secured on its interior side walls 94a series of spaced lug members 106 and 108 which removably support awater manifold or fountain field structure 110 disposed intermediate thefreezing mold 60 and the lower wall 92 of the spray housing 78, thewater manifold structure 110 being disposed in vertical alignment withand parallelly inclined to the freezing mold 60 As shown in FIGURES 3,4, 6, 7, and 18, the water manifold structure 110, which is coextensivewith the freezing mold 60, comprises two coextensive :and parallel,upper and lower, cupped or disked plate-like members 112 and 114,respectively, preferably of a suitable plastic material similar to thatof the spray housing 78. A flexible and resilient sealing gland orgasket 116 of a suitable material, such as rubber or a plastic such asvinyl, is interposed between the plate members 112 and 114 of themanifold 110 and is in contact with t-he peripheral rim portions 117 and119, respectively, thereof. The peripheral rim portions 117 and 119 ofthe manifold plates 112 and 114, respectively, are frictionally heldtogether in sealing engagement with the sealing gasket 116 by L-shapedbrackets 11S- and 120 having laterally extending legs 122 and 124,respectively. The legs 122 and 124 are maintained in tight engagementwith the upper and lower manifold plates 112 and 114, respectively, bythreaded bolts 126 extending through apertures therein and having wingnuts 128 threaded on the ends thereof into firm engagement with the leg124 of each L-shaped bracket 120. The opstanding leg 130 on each lower,L- shaped bracket 120 is provided with a plate .member 132 rigidlysecured thereto in any suitable manner. The plate member 132 is providedwith a downwardly extending slot 134 which is adapted to receive thereinthe adjacent lug 108 on the spray housing 78 in order to removably mountthe water manifold 110 on the spray housing 78 (see FIGURE 4).

The peripheral rim portions 117 and 119 of the manifold plates 112 and114, respectively, are also disposed in channels 13S and 140 in U-shapedretaining plates 142 and 144, respectively (see FIGURE 6). The retainingplate 142 is provided with brackets 146 rigidly mounted thereon in anysuitable manner and provided with apertures 148 in which the mountinglugs 106 of the spray housing 78 are received (see FIGURES 3 and 4). Theopposite retaining plate 144 has plate members 150 rigidly mountedthereon in any suitable manner whi-ch are provided with lower, upwardlycurved sections 152 which serve a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The preferred resilient sealing gasket 116, used in the manifold 110shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6, and 7, is shown in enlarged scale in FIGURE 8.The gasket 116, which is endless throughout the entire peripheral extentof the manifold 11G, is of a generally T-shaped section with atransverse flange portion 154 thereof in abutting contact engagementwith the outer peripheral edges 156 and 158 of the manifold plate rimportions 117 and 119, respectively. The laterally extending leg 160 ofthe gasket 106 extends between and in sealing engagement with theparallel surfaces 162 and 164 of the manifold plate rim portions 117 and119, respectively, and terminates in a solid, generally circular orbulbous section 166 which is in firm engagement with the inclinedsurfaces 168 and 170 of the manifold plates 112 and 114.

The sealing gasket 116 may be of various sectional configurations andthe rim portions 117 and 119 of the manifold plates 112 and 114,respectively, may be mounted on the side walls 94 of the spray housing73 in an alternate manner, as illustrated, for example, in FIGURES 9,l0, ll, and l2. In all of these figures, the peripheral rim portions 117and 119 of the manifold plates 112 and 114, respectively, arefrictionally held together in sealing engagement against the modifiedsealing glands shown therein by the reinforced legs of U-shaped,resilient spring clamp members 172. The spring clamp members 172 arewelded or otherwise suitably secured to strap-like members 173 which aresuitably apertured at the upper ends thereof (not shown) to slidablyengage the mounting lugs 106 and 103 of the spray housing 73. Thismoditied mounting arrangement of the water manifold 111i on sprayhousing 78 may also be utilized with the preferred sealing gland orgasket 116 shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, and the preferredmounting arrangment for the water manifold 119 shown in these latter vfigures may be used with the modied sealing gaskets shown in FIGURES 9through 12,

The modified sealing gasket 416 shown in FIGURE 9 is similar to thepreferred sealing gasket 116 in that it comprises a transverse endfrange portion 454 and a leg 460 extending inwardly therefrom. The leg4611 terminates in a generally triangular, hollow, and inflated section466, the sides of which bear against the inclined surfaces 168 and`170of the manifold plate members 112 and 114, respectively. In FIGURE l0,the second modified sealing gasket 516 has a leg 561i which terminatesat its outer edge substantially ush or in alignment with the outerperipheral edges 156 and 15S of the plate rim portions 117 and 119,respectively, while the inner edge of the leg 560 terminates in abifurcated portion 566 having wing sections which are flared outwardlyinto contact with the inclined plate surfaces 168 and 171B. The thirdmodified gasket 616 of FIGURE 11 is generally similar to the secondmodified gasket of FIGURE 10, except that the inner edge portion thereofis solid and enlarged at 666 and terminates in a vertically extending,flat inner face 668. FIGURE l2 illustrates a fourth modified sealinggasket 716 which is similar to the preferred gasket 116 in that the leg760 thereof terminates in an inner solid bulbous section 767 inengagement with the inclined plate surfaces 168 and 170. The outer edgeof the leg 760, however, terminates substantially flush with the outerperipheral edges 156 and 158 of the manifold rim portions 117 and 119,respectively.

The upper, relatively thick plate-like member 112 of the water manifold110, as clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, is generally corrugated insection and is provided with raised, curved portions 174 and at,depressed portions 176. The raised curved portions 17d are disposed invertical alignment with the parallel rows of freezing cells 62 in theImold 61B. Each raised portion 174 has a plurality of equally spacedwater ejection ducts 178 therein which, owing to the thickness of theplate member 112, a-re relatively elongated in section. Each of thewater ducts 178 is disposed in alignment with each of the mold cups orcells 62 so that the latter will receive water ejected from the ducts178.

The bottom plate-like member 114 of the manifold 110 is formed at thelower end thereof (the right end as seen in FIGURE 3) with a locallydepressed basin or well 180 to which extends a water supply pipe 182that is slidably and detachably connected thereto by a suitable, easilyremovable rubber sleeve or bushing 184. The water supply pipe 182extends downwardly through an enlarged aligned opening 186 in adepressed drain basin or well 188 in the bottom wall 92 of the sprayhousing 78.

Disposed directly below the enlarged opening 186 in the spray housingwell 188 is a flat-bottomed water sump or reservoir 190 of relativelysmall transverse area relative to the cabinet chamber 34, as is apparentfrom FIGURES 3, 4, and 5. The sump 190 preferably is formed of asuitable plastic material similar to that of the spray housing 78.Removably mounted in the sump 1911 is a unitary pump and motor unit 192comprising a pump 194, vertically spaced from the bottom of the sump 198on legs 196 and a motor 198, preferably of the electric type, which ispositioned directly over the pump 194 and suitably connected in drivingrelation thereto. The motor 198 is thermostatically responsive, by meansnot shown, to the tem- 3 perature of the water in the freezing moldcells 62, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The water supply pipe 182 connects at the lower end thereof with thewater discharge end 200 of the water pump 194. A water feed pipe orconduit 202 enters the cabinet chamber 34 at 20d and connects with thesump 190 through a valve 206 which is controlled by a pivoted arm 208having a float 210 adjustably mounted thereon at its free end disposedwithin the sump 190. The valve 286 is readily disconnectible from thewater feed pipe 202 and is removably supported on the upper portion ofone side of the sump 19t) by a horizontally positioned plate member 212thereon having a vertical pin 214 slidably and snugly received in astirrup bracket 216 xedly secured on the sump 19() (see FIGURE 3).

As clearly shown in FIGURE 4, a vertically positioned, L-shaped overflowpipe 21S having a top edge 220 is connected to the sump 19t) adjacentits bottom wall portion 222 and is held rigidly in position by a bracemember 224 attached to the side wall 226 of the sump 190. An overowopening 228 is provided in the side wall 230 of the sump 191B near theupper portion thereof and is spaced a predetermined, but relativelyshort, distance above the top edge 220 of the overflow pipe 218 for areason which will be apparent from the description hereinafter.

The chamber 34 of the upper cabinet section 32, which is positioneddirectly over the ice bin 40 of the lower cabinet section 38, has abottom hollow or double-walled structure forming a partition 232 betweenthe two cabinet sections 32 and 38 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). The upperportion of the partition 232 has a flat, substantially horizontalperipheral wall portion 234 on which is supported the sump 190, and amajor depressed central drain area 236 having a lower wall 238 slopingdownwardly towards one end thereof, The drain area 236 has a well ordepression 248 therein to which is connected a sewer drain connection242. At one end of the partition 232 (the right end as shown in FIGURE3), an elevated or raised horizontal section 244 is provided whichconnects the peripheral 234 of the partition 232 with the centraldepressed drain area 236. The horizontal section 244 of the partition232 is provided with a vertical opening 246 which serves a purpose to belater described. The sump 190 is removably supported on and frictionallyheld in position on the fiat peripheral wall 234 of the partition 232solely by its own weight and the weight of its contents, such as thepump and mot-or unit 192 and the water contained therein.

Secured to one end of the water spray housing 78 is a downwardlyextending, vertically disposed ice cube exit chute structure 248 (seeFIGURE 3) having an upper, elongated entry port 248 of a widthcorresponding to the width of the freezing mold 6d. The exit chutestructure 243-8 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner, such as by anangle bracket or brackets 252, to the spray housing 78 in a manner toalign the entry port 250 thereof with the adjacent end opening in thespray housing 78. The lower end 254 of the ice cube chute structure 248has an adapted sleeve 256 secured thereon which is snugly received inthe vertical lopening 246 of the raised horizontal section 244 of thepartition 232. .The outer wall portion 258 of the lower ice chute end254 is extended to the lower end of the adapter sleeve 256 and is bentinwardly to form an ice cube detiector surface 260. The lower wallportion 262 of the bottom, double-walled partition 232 of charnber 34 isgenerally horizontally flat and seats on the upper edges of the sidewalls of the lower cabinet section 38 forming the ice bin 49. An opening264 formed in the lower wall portion 262 snugly receives fthe lower endof the adapter sleeve 256 therethrough, the latter being flanged at 266and secured to the lower wall porti-on 262 in any suitable manner.

As shown in FIGURE 3, a drain tube 268 connects to the water collectingtray T formed on the upper portion 96 of the spray housing 78 to conductany water therein 9 to the central drain area 236 in the lower portionof the cabinet section 82` and alongside of the sump 190.

Also illustrated in FIGURE 3 is a bridging wire grid 269 which extendsacross and is removably and frictionally secured in any suitable manner,such as on the curved plate sections 152 (FIGURE 6), between the lowerend of the manifold 110 and the lower edge of the end opening 180 in thespray housing 78 to form a connecting path or support structuretherebetween which serves a purpose to be described hereinafter.

FIGURE 16 shows a water regenerative or precooling receptacle or tray270 formed of a suitable heat conducting plastic or metallic material,which may be utilized with the instant ice cube making machine orapparatus in its preferred or modified forms. The regenerative tray 270could, for example, be positioned or mounted in any suitable manner inthe depression 240 of the drain area 236 beneath the drain opening 186in the basin 188 of the spray housing 78 to receive excess unfrozen, butcooled water falling from the freezing mold 60 and running along thewater manifold 118 onto the bottom wall 92 of the housing 78.Alternatively, the regenerative tray 270 could be rigidly secured to orintegrally formed with the bottom wall 92 from the spray housing 78 inthe area of the drain opening 186 thereof to receive excess cooled watertherefrom.

The tray 270 comprises a base 272 in which there is disposed a coolingcoil 274, one end of which is connected to the water feed pipe 282entering the chamber 34 at 204 and the other end of which preferably isconnected to the balance of the water feed pipe 202 extending to thefloat-controlled valve 286. A raised wall 276 surrounds the tray 270 toretain therein the excess cooled water entering the tray from the sprayhousing 78. This cooled water functions to precool the incoming water inthe water feed pipe 282 as itpasses through the cooling coil 274 in thebase 272 of the tray 270, thereby increasing the eciency of the instantice cube making mechanism or apparatus.

As shown in FIGURES 16 through 18, the regenerative tray 270 preferablyis provided with a drain valve 278 which allows the excess cooled waterto gradually drain from the tray 270 into a conduit 280 preferablyleading to the sump 190 at a rate which will maintain the level of theexcess water in the tray 270 below the upper surface of the raised wall276 to prevent overflowing and to allow for a fresh supply of cooledwater from the spray housing 78. The drain valve 278 comprises anexternally threaded, generally cylindrical hollow valve member 282 whichis threaded into an opening 284 in the base 272 of the tray 270 which isin communication with a bore 286 leading to the drain conduit 280. Theinterior surface 288 of the valve member 282 is radially relieved orenlarged at spaced intervals therearound to form drain channels 298therein. A solid, generally circular plug 292 is disposed within thevalve member 282 and is in frictional engagement with the interiorsurface 288 thereof, the bottom 294 of the plug 292 being disposed abovethe termination of the drain channels 290 adjacent the bottom portion ofthe valve member 282. The excess, cooled water in the tray 270 may thusdrain through the channels 290 in the valve member 282 past the plug 292and into the conduit 288 leading to the sump 190 at a predetermined ratedetermined by the depth of the plug 292 in the valve member 282. i

While the regenerative tray 278 has been disclosed herein as amodification of the instant ice cube making mechanism or apparatusdisclosed specifically in FIG- URES 3 and 4, for the purpose ofsimplifying these figures, it is noted that the regenerative tray 270 isconsidered to be a preferred modication of the instant apparatus, sinceit results in the increased efcency thereof. It is also noted that thetray 278 may be mounted in any suitable location on the instantapparatus, the only limitations being that the tray should be disposedto receive 1.8 the excess cooled water therein from the spray housing 78and to intercept the water feed pipe 282 to cool the incoming watertherein, and the drain conduit 280 thereof preferably should extend intothe sump 19110` to conserve the excess, cooled water draining from thetray 270.

Before describing the operation of the instant apparatus, it will beassumed that initially the sump is filled with water to a levelcorresponding to that of the top edge 220 of its overflow pipe 218 (seeFIGURE 4). The float 210y is initially adjusted along its pivoted arm208 so that the arm 208 will close the valve 206 to end the ilow ofWater into the sump 190 from the water feed pipe 202 when the level ofthe float 218 corresponds to the level of the upper edge 220 of theoverflow pipe 218. It will also `be assumed that the mold cells 62 areemptied of ice cubes and that the thermostatically responsive pump motor198 is thereby energized to actuate the pump 194 in a conventionalmanner, and also that refrigerant for freezing water entering the moldcells 62 is flowing in the tubes 78 extending through the mold 68.

In operation, the actuation of the pump 194 by its motor 198 forces thewater contained in the sump 190 to enter the pump inlet spaced above thebottom of the sump 198v for discharge under pressure from the outlet 208of the pump 194 through the water supply pipe 182 and then into thefixed and inclined water manifold 110. When the water is under apredetermined pressure within the manifold 110, it is ejected upwardly'through the elongated ejection ducts 178 in the raised portions 172 ofthe manifold plate 112 in the form of small, relatively low pressure andlow velocity streams S, as shown schematically in FIGURE 19. Each ofthese small water streams S impinges within an aligned freezing moldcell 62 to force air trapped therein up through the mold cell air ventapertures 74. Any water from the ejection ducts 178 which tends tosplash toward the ice cube chute 248 is prevented from entering thechute yby impinging against the downwardly and outwardly extendingangular deflector plate or strip 184. The water is then deflected fromthe plate 104 into the water receiving tray 102 which empties at one endinto the spray housing 78, the water then escaping into the sump 190 viathe -opening 186 in the basin 188 of the spray housing 78.

Since the freezing mold 60 is stationarily inclined, as disclosed, anywater which escapes through the mold cell air vent apertures 74, alongwith the air forced therethrough flows down the upper surface ridges 72and insulation 76 of the mold 70. From the upper surface of the freezingmold 70, the water drains into the water collecting tray T, the draintube 268, and then down onto the sloping lower wall 238 of the partition232 at the bottom of the cabinet section 32 which guides the water viathe well 240 to the sewer drain connection 242.

Since the flow of water from the elongated discharge ducts 178 of thewater manifold 110 into the mold cup or cells 62 is of relatively lowpressure and `therefore gentle and solid in character, it readilyfreezes in the cell 62 by the freez-ing action of the refrigerantflowing through the evaporator pipes 78 in the mold 68. Since thisfreezing of the water in the mold cells 62 progressively developsinwardly from the inner surfaces of the side walls 68 thereof, anyminute particles of mineral salts or other impurities suspended in thewater flowing into the cells 62 tends to move toward the center thereofand thus is flushed away by the water being gently discharged into thecells 62 from the water manifold 110.

Any water that is ejected from the elongated manifold ducts 178 land notfrozen in the mold cells 62, is chilled and prevented from freezing onthe remaining exposed portions of the mold structure 60 by reason of theinsulation 76 -thereof and flows down onto the lower surface or wall 92of the spray housing 78. This chilled water on the lower housing wall 92is conducted into the depressed drain basin area 188 and escapes throughthe opening 186 therein into the sump 190i. It is noted again that,instead of draining directly into the sump 190, the excess, chilledwater from the freezing mold 60 could be conveyed from the spray housing78 into the Iregenerative tray 270 shown in FIGURE 16 to thus precoolthe incoming water passing through the cooling coil 274 of the tray 270and increase the eiiiciency of the instant apparatus.

Any mineral or other impurities in the water, as above referred to,which are returned to or contained in the sump 190, tend to settle tothe bottom 222 thereof, above which the pump intake is spaced. Since theexcess chilled water thus returned to the sump 190, either directly fromthe spray Ihousing '7S or through the regenerative tr-ay 270, is inexcess of that admitted to the sump 190 by the water inlet valve 206,under control of its governor float 210, the water level in the sump 190thereby is caused to rise above the top edge 220 of the overflow pipe218 to the level of the overflow opening 228 in the side wall 230 of thesump 190. When this rise in the water level occurs, the water from thebottom portion of the sump 190, along with any impurities containedtherein, is -removed therefrom through the overiiow pipe 218 and thendown onto the lower surface 238 of the partition 232 to the sewer drainconnection 242.

It will be readily seen, therefore, that such impurities, if present,are prevented from being continually recirculated over the ice cubes asthey are being frozen in the mold cells 62. As t-he water level in thesump 190 lowers to the level of the top edge 220 of the overiiow pipe218, the water flow therethrough to the sewer drain connection 242 ends.Accordingly, only a small volume'of Water, as determined by thedifference in height between the top edge 220 of the overiiow pipe 218and the sump overflow opening 223, drains from the sump 190 -at a giventime. It is apparent that this minimizes chilled water wastage andthereby further increases the efliciency of the instant ice cube makingapparatus.

When the freezing of the ice cubes in the mold cells 62 is completed,the thermostatically responsive pump motor 198 and thus the discharge ofwater from the pump 194 are automatically stopped. The water t-henstanding in the water manifold 1110 drains -back down through the Watersupply pipe 132 into the pump housing via its discharge outlet 200 andthen into the sump 190 via the pump inlet (not shown) spaced from thebottom 222 of the sump. The ow of refrigerant in the evaporator pipes 70wit-hin t-he mold 60 is then reversed for a predetermined period, byconventional means not illustrated, to temporarily warm the mold cells62 and to effect a slight melting of the mold-contacting surfaces of theice cubes formed therein to free them by gravity from the mold cell 62.Ey reason of the ducts or air vent apertures 74 air pressure is let intothe respective mold cells 62 so that :any vacuum effect which may becreated therein is broken so that the newly formed ice cubes then fallfrom the mold cells 62 by gravity onto the inclined curved and flatportions 174 and 176, respectively, of the upper plate 112 of thefreezing mold 60 and are guided thereby to slide downwardly therealong,'also by gravity, over the wire grid 269 and through the opening 100 inthe spray housing 78 into the ice chute 248. The ice cubes then pass bygravity down through the chute 248 and through the `adapter sleeve 256into the ice cube storage bin 40. Meanwhile, as soon as the mold cellso2 are emptied of the formed ice cubes, the iiow of refrigerant pipes 70is autom-atically returned to normal, by conventional control means (notshown), to again effect freezing of the water entering the mold cells62. The thermostatically responsive pump motor 198 is likewise againenergized to repeat the mold cell lling and freezing cycle justdescribed.

As has heretofore been emphasized, it is important that -all of thevarious ceomponent elements of the instant ice cube making -apparatusIbe readily accessible and easily removable from the cabinet section 32by hand or without the need of special tools for cleaning or for anyother purpose. This is exceedingly important since normally specialsolutions are required, for example, in cleaning the sump pump 194 andmotor 198 thereof. By having the pump and motor unit 192 so easilyremovable, such solutions are prevented from being circulated throughoutthe entire ice cube making system of the instant apparatus. Under theseconditions, it is thus unnecessary to remove the ice cubes from thestorage bin 40 when the pump 194 and motor 198 are to be cleaned.

Moreover, because of the sole utilization of gravity, through the novelstationary arrangement of the freezing mold 60, the manifold 10 and icecube exit chute 248, to effect the transfer of the ice cubes to thestorage bin 40, the use of moving parts and costs of operation aremaintained at a minimum to thus aid in attaining maximum eiiiciency.

When it is desired to remove the freezing mold structure 60 from thechamber 34 for cleaning or any other reason, the cover 36 is firstremoved from the upper cabinet section 32. Since the mold 60 is onlyfrictionally held in place on the liange 79 of the spray housing 78 bythe brackets 84 and 86, it may be easily lifted manually out of thecabinet section 32 if the evaporator pipes 70 of the mold 60 areiiexible in character. If the pipes 70 are not flexible, theirconventional coupling members would be easily disconnectible by use of aconventional wrench or similar simple tool.

To similarly remove the water manifold from the spray housing 78 merelyrequires the manifold 110 to be manually lifted at the right end thereofas seen in FIG- URE 3 to free its plate members 132 from the lugs 10S onthe spray housing 78. The manifold 110 is then manually pulled to theright as seen in FIGURE 3, to slide the brackets 146 on the retainingplate 140 from the lugs 106 on the spray housing 78. The subsequentmanual lifting of the right end of the manifold 110 frees the bridgingwire grid 269 from the side of the spray housing 7S and, simultaneously,frees the upper end of the water supply pipe 182 from its rubber sleeve184 mounted on the depressed basin section 18S of the spray housing 78.The manifold 110 is then free for lifting out of the chamber 34 of thecabinet section 32.

To remove the pump Vand motor unit 192 from the sump 1&0 merely requiresthe manual removal of the slidably mounted control valve 206 from itsreadily disconnectible slidable mounting on the stirrup bracket 216 onthe side of the sump 190. The pump and motor unit 192 then is readilymanually liftable out of the sump 190 after the spray housing securingbolts 30 are unscrewed and the spray housing 78 has been lifted out ofthe cabinet section 32. With removal of the spray housing 78 and thepump and motor unit 192, it is obvious that the pump `may be readilymanually lifted from the cabinet section 32, since it is onlyfrictionally held in its ope-rative position by its own weight and theweight of its contents. The reassembly of the ice cube making componentsof the instant apparatus within the chamber 34 requires merely a-reversal of the steps of disassembly described above.

In FIGURE 14, there is illustrated a modified form of control mechanismfor controlling the periodic limited discharge of water and settledimpurities contained therein from the bottom of the sump 190, usable inlieu of the overflow pipe 218 of the above described preferredembodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4. The modified control mechanism of FIGURE10 comprises a vertically positioned, U-shaped bracket member 294suitably secured on the side of the sump 190 and having verticallyaligned aperttures 296 and 29S in the respective end flanges 300 and 302thereof which underlie and overlie, respectively, the sump 190. Thevalve rod 304 having a suitable valve member 306 secured thereto nearits lower end is slidable in the liange apertures 296 and 298, the valvemember 306 being adapted to seat over and close the discharge aperture308 in the bottom of the sump 190. A iioat 310 is secured above thevalve member 306 on a portion of the valve rod 304 disposed within thesump 190. The position of the float 310 on the rod 304 is such that thevalve member 306 maintains the discharge aperture 308 closed when thesump 190 is normally filled by the floatcontrolled water supply valve206 to the predetermined water level described with respect to FIGURE 4,but opens the sump discharge aperture 308 by lifting the valve member306 when the water level approaches the overflow opening 228 in the sidewall 230 of the sump 190, as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 15 illustrates another arrangement for controlling the periodicdischarge of a portion of the water and such impurities as may becontained therein from the bottom portion of a slightly modified sump312, the flat bottom portion 314 of which has a shallow well ordepression 316 at one end thereof. A U-shaped, Siphon tube overflow pipe318 is supported on mounting sleeve 320 extending through an overflowaperture in the upper portion of the end wall 322 of the sump 312adjacent the well 316 and at a level corresponding to the overflowaperture 228 in FIGURE 4. The lower end 324 of the siphon pipe 318within the sump 312 terminates closely adjacent the bottom of the well316. A small aperture 326 is provided in the siphon pipe 318 in theupper portion thereof within the sump 312.

The lower horizontal brokenline C in FIGURE 15 is indicative of thenormal water in the sump as determined by the float-controlled valve 206shown in FIG- URES 3 and 5. The uppermost point 328 of the siphon pipe318 is indicative of the overflow height of Water at which the Siphonpipe 318 begins to function to siphon water out of the sump 312. Theupper broken line B is indicative of the level of the water at which theSiphoning action of the siphon pipe 318 is stopped because of theuncovering of the aperture 326 therein as the water level lowers,permitting the entrance of air into the upper portion of the Siphon pipe318 to interrupt its siphoning action. The lower end of the siphon pipe318 exteriorly of the sump 312 conducts the overflow discharge into thelower portion of the cabinet section 32 and into the sewer drainconnection 242 as shown in FIGURE 3.

When the arrangement of FIGURE 15 is substituted in the instant ice cubemaking apparatus in the manner described above, the water draining backdown into the sump 312 from the water manifold 110 via the water supplypipe 182 and the pump inlet (not shown), which now becomes a drainoutlet from the manifold 110, raises the water level in the sump 312. Asthe water level rises above the siphon pipe aperture 326, the water inthe sump 312 flows through the aperture 326 to fill the portion of thesiphon pipe 318 thereabove. Should the water level in the sump 312 reacha level corresponding to the uppermost point 328 of the Siphon pipe 318,the siphoning function of the pipe 318 automatically starts and quicklybegins to lower the water level by conducting water with such impuritiesas may be suspended therein from the lower portion of the sump and thewell 316 thereof until it again uncovers the siphon pipe aperture 326 atthe level D, thereby automatically interrupting the siphoning functionof the pipe 318.

FIGURE 13 illustrates a modified arrangement which may be substitutedfor the water receiving tray 102 shown in FIGURE 3 for preventing excesswater flowing from the manifold ejection ducts 178 to the lower row ofmold cells 62 from splashing into the ice cube exit chute 248. Anautomatically operable splash preventing door or gate structure 330 ispivoted intermediate its end portions on a horizontal shaft 332extending transversely across the cabinet chamber 34 through the upperportion of the ice cube chute 24S. The transverse width of the gatestructure 330 is such that it extends laterally beyond both sides of theupper end of the chute 248. One end 334 of the gate structure 330extends within the spray housing 78 through the end opening 100 thereinand overlies the wire grid 269. The gate end 334 has formed thereon aU-shaped channel 336 with a web or tab member 338 at each end thereofsubstantially closing, but providing a restricted Water flow passage 340therefrom at each end thereof between the end of the tab member 338 andthe adjacent side of the gate structure 330. At its opposite end lyingwithin the ice cube chute 248, the gate structure 330 is provided with acounterweight member 342 which, when substantially no water is in thegate channel 336, maintains the gate structure 330 in its horizontal oropen position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 13, with the gate channel336 positioned beneath the water deflector strip 104.

When water splashes from the lower row of mold cells 62 adjacent the icechute 248 towards the top portion of the ice chute, it strikes thedeflector strip 104 and is deflected thereby to fall into the channel336 of the gate structure 330. When sufficient water collects in thegate channel 336, thereby increasing the weight of the gate end 334 toovercome the counterweight 342, it causes the gate structure 330 topivot counter-clockwise about its pivot shaft 332 into closing positionrelative to the ice chute 248, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 13,whereby the gate end 334 seats on the bridging wire grid structure 269.The water splashing onto the now inclined gate structure 330 is therebyretained within the spray housing 78 and flowsdown through the bridgingwire grid 269 to the depressed basin portion 188 of the spray housing 78and then through the opening 186 therein to the sump 190. When the waterpump 194 is automatically stopped at the end of a freezing cycle, theWater contained in the gate channel 336 slowly drains therefrom throughthe restricted water flow passages 340 to thus permit the counterweight342 to return the gate structure 330 to its open position when thechannel 336 is substantially empty. Accordingly, when the ice cubes arereleased from the mold cups 62, the gate structure 330 does not interferwith their passage over the wire grid 269 to the aperture of the sprayhousing 7 8 and into the ice cube chute 248.

FIGURE 21 illustrates another modified arrangement which may besubstituted for ythe water receiving tray 102 shown in FIGURE 3 forpreventing excess water flowing from the manifold ejection ducts 178 tothe lower row of mold cells 62 from splashing into the ice cube exitchute 248. In this arrangement, the angular water splash deflector plate104 has a plate 796 removably secured to the lower port-ion thereof by anut and bolt connection or in any other suitable manner. The plate 796comprises a hooked portion 798 in which a flexible water dellcctordevice 800 is removably disposed. The water deflector device 800comprises a rod 801 formed of any suitable material which rests in thehooked portion 798 of plate 796. Integrally connected flexible sheets802 and 803 of a suitable plastic or other water repellent materialextend over the rod 801 and extend downwardly from the hooked portion798 of plate 796 a sufficient distance to shield the entry opening 250of the ice cube exit Chute 248. It is noted `that the flexible sheets802 and 803 need not be integrally lconnected and, alternatively, theymay be formed separately and thus they may be separately secured to ormounted on the rod 801 in any .suitable manner. In order to increase theflexibility of the sheets 802 and 803, each is provided with a pluralityof longitudinally staggered slits 805 extending upwardly therein fromthe bottom portion thereof (see FIGURE 22). The plates 104, 796 and theflexible sheets 802, 803, therefore, function to deflect water splashingfrom the lower row of mold cells 62 towards the wire grid 269 and intothe spray housing 78, thus preventing splashed water from entering theice cube exit chute 248.

FIGURE 22 illustrates a water deflector arrangement which issubstantially the same as that of FIGURE 21, except that a singledeflector plate 804 is utilized instead l of the separate plates 104 and7% of FlGURE 21. The decctor plate 504 could be secured to the undersideof the freezing mold 60 in any suitable manner.

While in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, `the Watermanifold is inclined to guide and slide thereon ice cubes falling fromthe freezing mold, it is noted that, alternatively, the water manifoldcould be disposed in a substantially horizontal position and an inclinedwire screen (not shown) could be disposed between the freezing mold andthe rwater manifold to guide ice cubes from the freezing mold to the icecube exit chute. The wire screen would, of course, be so constructed anddisposed as to all-ow the discharge of water from the water manifold tothe freezing mold cells.

From the above description, it is believed that it is readily apparentthat the herein disclosed ice cub making apparatus provides an apparatushaving substantially no moving parts, other than the water pump 194 andthe motor 198 -driving it, and possesses durability, maintainedeffectiveness, and operating eiciency. It also provides a constructionwhich Iconforms to the requirements of the National SanitationFoundation with respect to standards of cleanliness relating toautomatic frozen product making machinery or apparatus, as regards themanner in which it can readily and easily be disassembled andreassembled, and in View of the ease with Iwhich the various componentparts thereof can be removed by hand or with the use of simpleconventional tools for the purpose of olea-ning or replacing such parts,as above explained.

While the invention has been described and disclosed in terms of severalembodiments or modifications which it has assumed in actual practice,the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by theprecise embodiments or modifications as herein shown, illustrated,described, and disclosed, and it is to be understood that still othersuch embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved,especially as they fall within lthe scope of the claims hereinsubjoined.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making blocks of ice of a predetermined shape,comprising:

a cabinet having an upper ice block making section and a lower ice blockstorage section,

a freezing mold manually releasably mounted in a xed horizontallyinclined position in said upper cabinet section and having evaporatortubes therein which are adapted for connection to `a refrigeratingapparatus,

said freezing mold having parallel rows of downwardly opening freezingcells therein of a shape corresponding to said predetermined ice blockshape,

a IWater manifold manually releasably mounted in a fixed horizontallyinclined position in said upper cabinet section directly below saidfreezing mold and in parallel relationship relative thereto,

said water manifold comprising:

a pair of upper and lower, substantially parallel, relatively shallowcup-like plate members disposed in fac-ing relationship relative to eachother to define a Water receiving chamber therebetween,

said plate members having flat peripheral rim portions,

an endless sealing gasket interposed between said peripheral rimportions, of the plate members and clamping plates removably mounted onsaid peripheral rim portions of the plate members to press said rimportions into sealing engagement with said sealing gasket and to firmlysecure said plate members together,

the upper of 4said plate members being provided with alternate raisedcurved portions and depressed flat portions disposed in substantiallyparallel relationship to each other and extendi-ng throughoutsubstantially the Ientire width of said upper plate member,

Said. raised Curved portions of said upper plate member lb beingdisposed in vertical alignment with said parallel rows of freezing cellsin the freezing mold and having relatively elongate water ejection ductstherein which are in vertical alignment with each of said freezing cellsand in communication with said water receiving chamber in said watermanifold,

the lower of said plate members being substantially Hat and having awell adjacent one end portion thereof with a water intake aperturetherein.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim l., together with an inclinedspray housing removably mounted in said cabinet, said housingcompris-ing:

an upper flange portion extending in generally parallel relationship tosaid freezing nrold and upon which said freezing mold is manuallyreleasably mounted,

side walls disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to andenclosing said Water manifold and having inwardly extending logs securedthereto Iupon which said water manifold is manually removably mounted,

' the side walls of said spray housing adjacent the lower end portionsthereof -being provided with a frozen pro-duct exit opening, and

a bottom wall haivin-g the .greater portion thereof disposed insubstantially parallel relation to said water manifold and harving abasin in the lower portion thereof with an excess water drain ope-ningthe-rein.

`3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprisintg:

a Water regenerative tray connected to said water conduit and soconstituted and disposed as lto receive excess cooled water therein fromsaid excess water drain opening in said spray housing,

said regenerative tray serving to precool the incoming water in saidwater conduit as it flows therethrough to said sump.

4. The apparatus as recited 4in claim 2 further comprising:

an elongate frozen product exit chute having the upper portion thereofremovably mounted on said lower side wall of said spray housing :andhaving an entry aperture therein adjacent to and in alignment with saidspray 'housing frozen product exit openin said exit chute beingremovably mounted on the cabinet and extending downwardly to a storagesection thereof,

said water manifold being inclined downwardly to- Wards said exit chuteto slidably convey frozen product falling thereon `from said freezingmold toward said exit chute, and

an linclined wire grid extending downwardly from the lower end portionof said water manifold to form a continuation thereof and having theends thereof removably mounted on said lower end portion of said watermanifold and on sai-d exit chute adjacent the lower portion of said exitchute entry aperture, respectively,

said wire grid serving to slidably convey frozen products from saidwater manifold to said exit chute.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a water receiving tray mounted in said cabinet and extendingtherethrough to a location beneath the lower end portion of saidfreezing mold, and

a water deflecto-r plate mounted on said lower end portion of saidfreezing mold to deflect water ejected from said water manifold andsplashing from said freezing -mold into said water receiving tray.

6. The apparatus as recited Iin claim 5 Ifurther cornprising:

a sump manually releasably mounted Ion the bottom portion of said uppercabinet section and disposed beneath said excess water drain opening ofsaid spray housing,

a pump manually releasably mounted on the bottom portion of said sumpand having an intake which is disposed above said bottom sump portion,

a water supply pipe removably connected iat the upper end thereof tosaid lower manifold plate well and in communication with said waterintake aperture therein,

said. water supply pipe extending downwardly through said excess waterdrain opening of said spray housing and Iinto said sump wherein thelower end thereof is connected to the discharge portion of said pump,and

a water feed pipe adapted for releasable connection to a water supplysource and extending into said sump.

7. Ihe apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

`a valve in said feed pipe Ifor automatically maint-aining the water insaid sump at a predetermined level, said valve being manually`releasably mounted on said sump,

a float for controlling said valve being disposed within said sump andhaving an arm connected to said valve whereby said valve is closed :bysaid iloat when the water in said sump reaches said predeter-minedlevel, and

an overow pipe having an upper, substantially verticalportion secured tothe side portion of said sump and having a substantially horizontallower portion in conununica-tion with the bottom portion of said sump toflush water and any impurities which may be contained ltherein irom saidbottom sump portion when the level of Water in said sump is Iabove thetop edge of said upper vertical ovenow pipe portion.

8. The apparatus las recited in claim 7 wherein:

said cabinet is formed of inner and outer metal walls with insulationtherebetween,

said freezing mold is ionmed of a heat conducting material,

said water manifold is formed of a plastic material,

said spray housing is .formed of a plastic material,

said exit chu-te is `fonmed of a plastic material, and said sum-p isformed of .a plastic material;

9. In an apparatus for making ice cubes, the combination of:

a cabinet,

a freezing mold mounted in -a horizont-ally inclined position in saidcab-inet and adapted for connection to a freezing refrigerant,

said freezing mold having downwandly opening freez ing cells therein lof.a shape corresponding to that of said ice cubes,

a water manifold mounted in a horizontally inclined position in saidcabinet directly below said freezing mold and in parallel relationthereto,

said water manifold in turn comprising:

a pair 'of Iupper and lower cup-Like piate members disposed in facingrelation to de-ne a water receiving chamber therebetween,

an endless sealing gasket intenposed between said plate members, and

clamping devices mounted on said plate members to press them intosealing engagement with said sealing gasket and to iirmly secure saidplate members together,

the upper of said plate members being provided with relatively elongatedwater ejection ducts therein which .are in vertical alignment with eachof said freezing cells `and in communication Iwith said water receivingchamber -in said 'water manifold,

the lower of said plate members having a water intake aperture therein;

a horizontally inclined spray housing mounted on said cabinet and inlturn comprising:

an upper dange portion extending in parallel relationship to saidfreezing mold land upon which said direc-zing mold is mounted,

side walls enclosing said water manifold and having devices securedthereto upon which said water manilfold clamping devices are mounted,

the side wall of said spray housing at the lower end thereof beingprovided with an ice cube exit opening, and

a bottom wall htaving an excess water drain opening therein;

ran ice cube exit chute mounted 4on said spray Ihousing and incommunication with said ice cube exit opening thereof,

said exit chute extending downwardly .through said cabinet to an icecube storage area,

said wate-r manifold being inclined downwardly towards said exit chuteto slidably convey by 'gravity ice cubes falling thereon from saidfreezing mold towards said exit chute,

an ,assembly mounted on the lower portion of said freezing mold and onsaid exi't chute for preventing excess water ejected from said manifoldonto said lower lfreezing mold portion from entering said exit chute,

a sump mounted within said cabinet and disposed beneath said excesswater drain opening of said spray housing,

a pump mounted within said sump and having an intake which is `disposedabove the bottom portion of said sump,

-a water supply ypipe having one end connected rto said lower :manifoldplate and in communication with said water intake aperture therein,

said water supply pipe having the other end thereof connected to thedischarge portion of said pump,

a water conduit adapted for connection 'to a water supply source Iandextending into said sump,

a valve in said water conduit for automatically maintaining water insaid sump at a predetermined level,

a device connected to said valve for closing said valve when the waterin said sump is Iat sa-id predetermined level, and

.an overow device in communication with bottom portion of said sump toflush water Iand any impurities which may be contained therein from saidsump bottom portion when the level of water in said sump is above saidpredetermined level.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said regenerative .ti-aycomprises:

a cooling coil connected to said water conduit so that the incomingwater therein ows through s-aid coil, and

a drain valve in the bottom portion of said tray yfor constantlydraining the excess cooled water in said tray at ia predetermined rate.

11. 4In apparatus tor making a frozen product of predetermined shape,the combination of z a cabinet,

Ia freezing mold mounted in said cabinet and adapted for connection to arefrigeration system,

said freezing mold having at least one Igenerally downwardly openingfreezing cell therein of a configura tion corresponding -to saidpredetermined shape, and

1a liquid manifold mounted 4in said cabinet below said freezing mold,

said liquid manifold comprisin ya pair of upper and lower plate-likemembers disposed in Ifacing Irelationship relative to each other todeline a liquid receiving chamber therebetween,

a sealing gasket interposed between said plate-like members,

at least one clamping device mounted on. said platlike members to placethem into sealing engagement with said sealing gasket and to irmlysecure said plate-like members together,

19 the upper of said .plate-like niembersihaving Iat least one liquiddischarge duct .therein which is generally 'in alignment with :t'hedownwardly facing freezing cell of the freezing mold and incommunication with the liquid receiving chamber of the liquid manifold,and at least yone of said plate-like members having a liquid intakeaperture therein. 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 111 togetherwith manually releasable devices :for securing the freezing mold and theliquid manifold to the cab-inet. 13. The `apparatus as set forth inclaim 11 together with devices for disposing the freezing mold 4and theliquid manifold in substantially parallel relationship relative to eachother. 14. The .apparatus as set forth :in claim .11 together withdevices for disposing the freezing mold and the liquid manifold inpositions which are inclined relative toI a generally horizontallyextending plane. 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein:said freezing mold comprises a plurality of spaced,

generally downwardly facing freezing cells each having a shapecorresponding to said predetermined shape, and said liquid manifold hasa plurality of liquid discharge ducts in a portion thereof facing saidfreezing cells, each of said liquid discharge ducts being aligned with arespective one of said downwardly facing freezing cells. 16. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein: the plate-like member whichis disposed adjacent said freezing lmold comprises alternate raisedcurved portions and depressed flat .portions intermediate saidperipheral flanges thereof, and said discharge ducts are disposed insaid raised curved portions. 17. In an ice cube making machine: -a moldstructure having a plurality of downwardly opening, :spaced apart, icecube freezing cells therein, manually releasable devices comprisingbracket-like structures for securing said mold in an oblique positioninclined to a horizontal plane, a water manifold, an assembly comprisingresilient members for manually releasably securing said water manifoldin an oblique position below and generally parallel to said freezingmold, a device for connecting sa-id water manifold to a supply of water,said manifold having a plurality of relatively elongate ducts in aportion thereof, said ducts being aligned with said freezing mold cellsfor projecting water therein to be frozen into ice cubes, whereby whensaid mold releases the ice cubes formed therein land they fall on-tosaid water manifold under the force of gravity, said oblique watermanifold thereafter serves as a lslide for said ice cubes thereon toconduct them under the force of gravity to a remote storage area. 18.The machine :as recited in claim 17 wherein: said water manifoldcomprises a pair of substantially parallel, relatively shallowplate-like members having peripheral flanges and disposed in facingrelationship relative to each other to define a water receiving chambertherebetweeen, a 'sealing gasket interposed betweeen said peripheralflanges of said plate-like members, and manually releasable clampingdevices mounted on said peripheral flanges to secure said plate-likemembers together in sealing relation.

19. The machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said Ila|st mentionedmanually releasable clamping devices comprise:

a pair of angle plates defining 1a channel therebetweeen in which said:peripheral flanges of said plate-like members `and said sealing gasketare disposed,

threaded bolts extending through said angle plates, said peripheralflanges and said sealing gasket, and

wing nuts threaded on said bolts to clamp the peripheral flanges of saidpl-ate-like members together against said sealing gasket to form aliquid-tight seal therebetween.

20. The machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said last mentionedmanually releasable clamping devices comprise:

a generally U-shaped resilient channel member having Ilegs in tightfrictional engagement with said peripheral flanges of said plate-likemembers.

21. A water manifold for use in combination with a mold having aplurality of freezing cells, said water manifold comprising:

a pair of relatively shallow co-extensive and substantially parallel,dished, plate-like members disposed in facing relationship relative toeach other to define a water receiving chamber therebetween,

each of said plate-like members having a peripheral flange thereon,

a sealing gasket interposed between said peripheral flanges,

an assembly for clamping said peripheral flanges together into sealin-gContact with said sealing gasket,

one of said plate-like members being releasably connected to a supply ofwater, and

the other of said plate-like members having a plurality of spaced apartwater discharge ducts extending therethrough with said discharge ductsbeing in alignment with the freezing cells of the mold and incommunication with said water receiving chamber of the water manifold.

22. The wa-ter manifold as recited in claim 21 where- 1n:

said other of `said plate-like members comprises a uniformly andrelatively thick wall,

the portion of said thi-ck wall intermediate said peripheral flangescomprising alternate ra-ised and depressed elongated portions,

said spaced water discharge ducts extending through said alternateraised elongated portions.

23. The water manifold as recited in claim 21 where- 1n:

both of said plate-like members comprise uniformly relatively thickwalls,

said other of said platealike members intermediate said peripheralflanges thereof comprising alternate raised curved and depressed flatelongate portions,

said water discharge ducts extending through said alternate raisedcurved elongate portions and disposed in substantially parallel andgenerally equally spaced relationship,

said one of said plate-like members having a relatively small depressedlarea -at one end thereof to which said supply of water is releasablyconnected.

24. The Water manifold as recited in claim 21 wheresaid assemblycomprises:

a pair of angle plates which are so disposed as to define a channeltherebetween in which said peripheral flanges and said sealing gasketare disposed,

a manually releasable locking device for maintaining said angle platesin tight engagement with said peripheral flanges to press them intosealing contact with said sealing gasket, and

a device mounted on one of said angle plates for manually releasablysecuring said water manifold 2l in la predetermined position on asupport assembly therefor.

25. The water manifold as recited in claim 21 wheresaid assemblyc-omprises:

a U-shaped resilient channel member having legs which are in tightfrictional engagement with said peripheral flanges to maintain them insealing engagement with said sealing gasket, and

a device rigidly mounted to said channel member for manually releasablysecuring said water manifold in a predetermined position on a supportassembly therefor.

26. A water manifold -for use in combination with a mold of anice makingmachine, comprising:

a pair of relatively shallow plate-like members of generally equal planarea having peripheral and substantially parallel edge flan-ges disposedin adjacent facing relationship relative to each other to define a waterreceiving chamber therebetween,

one of said members being structurally adapted to rey ceiVe watertherethrough into said Water receiving chamber,

the other of said plate-like members being adapted to discharge watertherethrough from said water receiving chamber, and

an endless gasket interposed between said peripheral flanges andextending throughout the entire peripheral length thereof,

said endless gasket having a relatively narrow portion disposed insealing cont-act with said peripheral flanges and a widened inner endportion disposed within said water receiving chamber in sealing contactwith said plate-like members.

27. The water manifold as recited in claim 26 further comprising:

manually releasable clamping devices for maintaining said peripheralflanges in sealing engagement with said sealing gasket.

28. A water manifold as recited in claim 26 wherein:

said widened inner end portion of said sealin-g gasket is solid andbulbous in shape,

and the outer end of said sealing gasket is provided with a transverseflange in engagement with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges ofsaid plate-like members.

29. The water manifold as recited in claim 26 wheresaid widened innerend portion of said sealing gasket is hollow and of generally triangularshape, and

the outer end of said sealing gasket is provided with a transverse angein engagement with the -outer edges of said peripheral anges of saidplate-like members.

30. A Water manifold as recited in claim 26 wherein:

said widened inner end portion of said sealing gasket is .generallyV-shaped and comprise-s outwardly iiared wing rsections in sealingengagement with said platelike members, and

the outer end portion of said rsealing gasket terminates substantiallyin alignment with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges of saidplate-like members.

31. The water maniold as recited in claim 26 wheresaid widened inner endportion of said Isealing gasket is solid and of generally triangularshape, and

the outer end portion of said sealing gasket terminates substantially inalignment with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges of saidplate-like members.

32. A water manifold Ias recited in claim 26 wherein:

said widened inner end portion of said sealing gasket is solid andbulbous in shape, and

the outer end portion of -said sealing gasket terminates substantiallyin alignment with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges of saidplate-like members.

33. In a machine for making frozen products wherein 22 an inclinedfreezing mold is provided with a plurality of downwardly -facing cellsinto which a liquid is projected generally upwardly from a plurality ofaligned ducts in a substantially parallelly inclined manifold disposedbeneath said freezing mold and receiving liquid from a remote pressuresource, the combination therewith of:

a spray housing releasably supporting said freezing mold thereon,

said manifold being releasably supported in spaced relation below saidfreezing mold and enclosed within said spray housing,

the bottom pontion of said spray housing having a drain opening thereinlof the discharge for the excess cooled, but unfrozen liquid fallingdownwardly from said freezing mold,

a conduit for feeding liquid to said remote pressure source,

a receptacle disposed beneath said drain opening of said spray housingto receive said excess cooled liquid therefrom,

said liquid feed conduit passing through said receptacle whereby theincoming liquid therein is precooled by said excess cooled liquid insaid receptacle prior to the passage of said incoming liquid t-o saidremote pressure source,

said receptacle having a drain aperture therein, and

valvintg disposed in the drain aperture of the receptacle for constantlydraining said excess cooled liquid therefrom at a predetermined rate,

said valving comprising,

a hallow valve member secured to the receptacle and disposed in thedrain aperture thereof,

the interior surface of the valve member having spaced apart generallylongitudinally extending drain channels therein,

a plug member disposed within the valve member in er1- gagement with theinterior surface thereof whereby excess cooled liquid in the receptaclewill constantly drain at a predetermined rate through the aperture bypassing through the drain channels and past the plug member.

34. The machine of claim 33 wherein said plug member is frictionallymounted within said valve member so that the rate of discharge of saidexcess cooled liquid from said receptacle through said drain opening maybe readily controlled.

35. A fluid spray mani-fold comprising:

a pair of platealike members which are so constructed and disposed as todene a liuid receiving chamber therebetween,

said plate-like members each being provided with peripheral edge flangesdi-sposed in adjacent facing relationship relative to each other,

one of said members being structural-ly adapted to receive Huidtherethrough into said fluid receiving chamber,

with the other plate-like member having alternate raised and depressedelongate portions and spaced apart fluid discharge ducts incommunication with the fluid receiving chamber extending through thealternate fjaised elongate portions of the other plate-like mema sealinggasket interposed between the peripheral flanges of said plate-likemembers with the sealing gasket extending throughout the full peripheralextent thereof, and

a clamping assembly for clamping the peripheral flanges of theplate-like members into sealing Contact with the sealing gasket.

36. The spray manifold as recited in claim 35' wherein said clampingassembly comprises:

a pair of angle plates which are so disposed as to dene a channeltherebetween in which said peripheral plate-like member portions andsaid sealing gasket are disposed, and

-a manually releasable locking device for maintaining said angle platesin tight engagement with said pe- -ripheral portions to press them intosealing contact with said sealing gasket.

37. The -spray manifold as recited in claim 35 further comprising 1adevice structurally operatively associated with said clamping assemblyfor manually releasably securing said spray manifold in a predeterminedposition on a support a-ssembly therefor.

38. The manifold as recited in claim 35 wherein:

said gasket has a relatively narrow portion disposed in sealing contactwith said peripheral portions of the plate-like members and a widenedinner end portion disposed within said uid receiving Chamber in sealingcontact with said plate-like members.

39. The manifold as recited in `claim 38 further comprising manuallyreleasable clamping devices for maintaining said peripheral flanges insealing engagement with said gasket,

40. The manifold as recited in claim 38 wherein said widened inner endportion of said sealing gasket is solid and bulbous in shape, and

the outer end of said sealing gasket is provided with a transverse angein engagement with the -outer edges of ysaid peripheral flanges of saidplate-like members.

41. The manifold as recited in claim 38 wherein said widened inner endportion of said sealing gasket is hollow yand of generally triangularshape, and

the outer end of said sealing gasket is -proivded with a transverseflange in engagement with the outer edges of said peripheral antges.

42. The manifold as recited in claim 38 wherein said widened inner endportion of said sealing gasket is generally V-shaped and comprisesoutwardly flared wing sections in sealing engagement with lsaidplate-like members, and

the outer end portion of said sealing gasket terminates `substantiallyin alignment with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges.

43. The manifold as recited in claim 38 wherein said widened inner endpor-tion of sealing gasket is solid and of generally triangular shape,and

the outer end portion of said sealing gasket terminates substantially inalignment with the outer edge-s of said peripheral flanges.

44. The manifold as recited in claim 38 wherein said widened innerportion of said sealing gasket is solid and bulbous in shape, and

the outer end portion of said sealing gasket terminates substantially inalignment with the outer edges of said peripheral flanges of saidplate-like members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,538 11/1934needy 239-559X 2,061,987 11/1936 Sorensen 239-567 X 2,319,523 5/1943Trigg 62,-74 2,387,921 10/1945 MacDonald 62-74 2,551,096 5/1951 Chiaiok239-567 X 2,608,833 9/1952 Woodruff 62-348 2,656,686 10/1953 Bayston62-347 2,663,178 12/1953 Schwartz.

2,677,249 5/1954 Meson 62-348 X 2,874,001 2/1959 webb 239-559 X2,921,447 1/1960 Gottschalk 62-348 X 2,985,381 5/1961 Cadena 239-559 X3,012,417 12/1961 Horte 62-347 3,035,777 5/1962 Boden et a1 239-559 X3,040,545 6/1962 Bouefer 62-347 X 3,040,546 6/1962 De vincent 62-3473,045,443 7/1962 McGrath et o1 62-347X 3,058,319 10/1962 Lees 62-348ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner.

11. IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING A FROZEN PRODUCT OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE, THECOMBINATION OF: A CABINET, A FREEZING MOLD MOUNTED IN SAID CABINET ANDADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, SAID FREEZING MOLDHAVING AT LEAST ONE GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY OPENING FREEZING CELL THEREINOF A CONFIGURTION CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED SHAPE, AND ALIQUID MANIFOLD MOUNTED IN SAID CABINET BELOW SAID FREEZING MOLD, SAIDLIQUID MANIFOLD COMPRISING; A PAIR OF UPPER AND LOWER PLATE-LIKE MEMBERSDISPOSED IN FACING RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO DEFINE ALIQUID RECEIVING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, A SEALING GASKET INTERPOSEDBETWEEN SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE CLAMPING DEVICE MOUNTED ONSAID PLATLIKE MEMBERS TO PLACE THEM INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDSEALING GASKET AND TO FIRMLY SECURE SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS TOGETHER,THE UPPER OF SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST ONE LIQUIDDISCHARGE DUCT THEREIN WHICH IS GENERALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEDOWNWARDLY FACING FREEZING CELL OF THE FREEZING MOLD AND INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE LIQUID RECEIVING CHAMBER OF THE LIQUID MANIFOLD,AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLATE-LIKE MEMBERS HAVING A LIQUID INTAKEAPERTURE THEREIN.